< Proverbs 1 >

1 The Parables of Salomon the sonne of Dauid King of Israel,
The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
2 To knowe wisdome, and instruction, to vnderstand ye wordes of knowledge,
To know wisdom and instruction, to discern the words of understanding.
3 To receiue instruction to do wisely, by iustice and iudgement and equitie,
To receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity.
4 To giue vnto the simple, sharpenesse of wit, and to the childe knowledge and discretion.
To give shrewdness to the inexperienced, knowledge and discretion to the young man.
5 A wise man shall heare and increase in learning, and a man of vnderstanding shall attayne vnto wise counsels,
A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will attain to sound counsel.
6 To vnderstand a parable, and the interpretation, the wordes of ye wise, and their darke sayings.
To understand a proverb, and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.
7 The feare of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fooles despise wisedome and instruction.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My sonne, heare thy fathers instruction, and forsake not thy mothers teaching.
My son, listen to your father's instruction, and do not forsake your mother's teaching:
9 For they shalbe a comely ornament vnto thine head, and as chaines for thy necke.
for they will be a garland to grace your head, and a necklace around your neck.
10 My sonne, if sinners doe intise thee, consent thou not.
My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
11 If they say, Come with vs, we will lay waite for blood, and lie priuilie for the innocent without a cause:
If they say, "Come with us, Let's lie in wait for blood; let's lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
12 We wil swallow them vp aliue like a graue euen whole, as those that goe downe into the pit: (Sheol h7585)
let's swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 We shall finde all precious riches, and fill our houses with spoyle:
We'll find all valuable wealth. We'll fill our houses with spoil.
14 Cast in thy lot among vs: we will all haue one purse:
Throw in your lot with us. We'll all have one purse."
15 My sonne, walke not thou in the way with them: refraine thy foote from their path.
My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your foot from their path,
16 For their feete runne to euill, and make haste to shed blood.
for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
17 Certainely as without cause the net is spred before the eyes of all that hath wing:
For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird:
18 So they lay waite for blood and lie priuily for their liues.
but these lie in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 Such are the wayes of euery one that is greedy of gaine: he would take away the life of the owners thereof.
So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
20 Wisdome cryeth without: she vttereth her voyce in the streetes.
Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.
21 She calleth in the hye streete, among the prease in the entrings of the gates, and vttereth her wordes in the citie, saying,
She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
22 O ye foolish, howe long will ye loue foolishnes? and the scornefull take their pleasure in scorning, and the fooles hate knowledge?
"How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?
23 (Turne you at my correction: loe, I will powre out my mind vnto you, and make you vnderstand my wordes)
Turn at my reproof. Look, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.
24 Because I haue called, and ye refused: I haue stretched out mine hand, and none woulde regarde.
Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
25 But ye haue despised all my counsell, and would none of my correction.
but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;
26 I will also laugh at your destruction, and mocke, when your feare commeth.
I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you;
27 Whe your feare cometh like sudden desolation, and your destruction shall come like a whirle wind: whe affliction and anguish shall come vpon you,
when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you.
28 Then shall they call vpon me, but I will not answere: they shall seeke me early, but they shall not finde me,
Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me;
29 Because they hated knowledge, and did not chuse the feare of the Lord.
because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD.
30 They would none of my counsell, but despised all my correction.
They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
31 Therefore shall they eate of ye fruite of their owne way, and be filled with their owne deuises.
Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.
32 For ease slaieth the foolish, and the prosperitie of fooles destroyeth them.
For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
33 But he that obeyeth me, shall dwell safely, and be quiet from feare of euill.
But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm."

< Proverbs 1 >